MD/DE Scout Blog: Damascus at Walt Whitman
May 2, 2023
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A matchup between two of the top teams in Montgomery County was played under the lights on Monday night, and it certainly lived up to the hype. Damascus made the late night travel to Walt Whitman for a showdown between two top 25 teams in the state, with a plethora or talent on both sides.
Walt Whitman gave the ball to their Senior ace in Lion Gardiner (Holy Cross), while Damascus went with Junior two-way standout Bryce Mitchell. Damascus struck first in the second, as a throwing error and two wild pitches scored the first run of the ballgame. As Mitchell was cruising along, Damascus struck again in the fourth. Following a Ryan Domer leadoff double, the Hornets scored two in the inning off of two more wild pitches, extending the lead to 3-0. Senior Chase Manion would cash in on the third run of the inning with an RBI single to right field, pushing the score to 4-0. After another three up-three down inning for Mitchell in the bottom of the fourth, Damascus would extend the lead to 5-0 in the fifth led by three hit by pitches. After breaking up the "Perfect Game" with a two out walk in the bottom of the fifth, Whitman would finally strike, as Junior two-way Ethan Murley blasted a two run homerun to left field to cut the deficit to 5-2. In the sixth, Senior two-way Liam Bowen (Frostburg State) notched a two RBI double to right-center field, followed by a huge go ahead two run blast off the bat of Junior Gideon Schwartz to give Whitman the 6-5 lead. Sophomore standout Sammy Berman (who was up to 89 mph on the night) hit the first batter of the inning before inducing a sac bunt and a strikeout. With the runner at second, a wild pitch moved the runner to third and Senior Dustin Hottel cashed in with a clutch 2 out RBI single down the left field line to tie the game at 6 a piece. The game would remain tied until the bottom of the eighth where Whitman would walk it off, as the winning run would score on a passed ball giving Whitman the 7-6 victory.
With such a back and forth game, we have highlighted below the key moments throughout and provided video and some notes as well.
Quick, efficient 1st for ‘24 @PBR_Uncommitted Bryce Mitchell (@dhs_baseball)
— Jamie Naill Jr (@JNaill8) May 1, 2023
Working the FB/SL in any count w/ confidence. FB showcasing feel to the AS w/ hard run, mixing a tight SL (2550 rpm) for K’s w/ gradual shape.
2 GO’s and a K
FB: 84-85, T86
SL: 72-74@PBRMaryland pic.twitter.com/TQD3D1epij
Another efficient inning for ‘24 @Bryce_Mitchell5 (@dhs_baseball)
— Jamie Naill Jr (@JNaill8) May 1, 2023
Ran the FB more consistently 85-86 in the inning, producing 2 K’s and a GO. FB has plenty of ride thru w/ some late life. Attacking zone, mixing well. Impressive start@PBRMaryland @PBR_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/VoYnbntc3E
‘23 MIF Chase Manion gives @dhs_baseball a 4-0 lead here in the 4th w/ this RBI single to RF
— Jamie Naill Jr (@JNaill8) May 2, 2023
Quick trigger w/ some hand speed thru. LD tendencies. @PBRMaryland pic.twitter.com/3FbnZJR24m
? @Bryce_Mitchell5 Update ?
— Jamie Naill Jr (@JNaill8) May 2, 2023
Now thru 4 innings ?
8 K’s
0 H
0 R
0 BB’s
68% Strikes
The @PBR_Uncommitted Junior is absolutely dealing right now@PBRMaryland @dhs_baseball pic.twitter.com/ir4X5m6vI2
Well this was majestic
— Jamie Naill Jr (@JNaill8) May 2, 2023
Two-way Ethan Murley just UNLOADED on one for a 2 run ? to cut the lead to 5-2. The 6-6 @PBR_Uncommitted ‘24 has also been up to 87 on the bump tonight
The Vikings first hit is a big one❗️
5-2 still in 5th#PBRBombSquad @PBRMaryland @MurleyEthan pic.twitter.com/uOtPbIasfS
Here’s a few looks at ‘24 @MurleyEthan (@WWVikesBaseBall) on the bump
— Jamie Naill Jr (@JNaill8) May 2, 2023
Mixed arsenal well and worked mostly to the arm side. FB showcased hard ASR at 84-86, T87, mixing the BB at 70-72. Tough, late fade to a killed CH at 74-76@PBRMaryland pic.twitter.com/S32JIBAxUj
WE HAVE A BALLGAME
— Jamie Naill Jr (@JNaill8) May 2, 2023
‘23 @Frostburg_BB commit Liam Bowen just pulled @WWVikesBaseBall within 1 w/ this 2 RBI double.
Now 5-4 in the bottom of the 6th@PBRMaryland pic.twitter.com/PmAgOihdQU
? WOW ?
— Jamie Naill Jr (@JNaill8) May 2, 2023
‘24 @PBR_Uncommitted C Gideon Schwartz (@WWVikesBaseBall) just hit a 2 run ? here in the 6th to put the Vikings ahead 6-5
Has also thrown 2 runners out from behind the dish
We head to T7, Vikings lead 6-5@PBRMaryland #PBRBombSquad pic.twitter.com/cb4xUBoYho
Not done yet❗️
— Jamie Naill Jr (@JNaill8) May 2, 2023
‘23 Dustin Hottel ties it up for @dhs_baseball w/ this 2 out RBI single down the LF line
Game of the year? We head to bottom 7 tied 6-6@jerry_shank @PBRMaryland pic.twitter.com/1zpIzfoPvT
? BALLGAME ?@WWVikesBaseBall walks it off in the bottom of the 8th on a bases loaded passed ball to take this one 7-6
— Jamie Naill Jr (@JNaill8) May 2, 2023
Phenomenal back and forth contest and the Vikes secure the comeback W@PBRMaryland pic.twitter.com/CHCQmkZaI4
Damascus
Bryce Mitchell SS / RHP / Damascus , MD / 2024In my first look at Mitchell on the bump since his standout performance at our MD Preseason All-State II event in February, the stuff has increasingly gotten more crisp and the arsenal at his disposal is impressive. Taking a perfect game into the fifth, Mitchell showcased the ability to throw any pitch in any count for strikes with the ability to manipulate shaped on the curveball and slider effectively. Working with shorter arm action, there's some deception to the delivery with controlled intent and a motor that allowed him to hold velo well into the later innings. The fastball sat every bit of 84-86 mph that showed feel to the arm side and late life through the zone. The slider was the "go-to" early on, showcasing shorter, gradual shape at 74-77 for strikes to both sides of the plate. The curveball showed bigger 11/5 shape at 70-72 mph with advanced feel to both lefties and righties. Mitchell was perfect through 4 2/3 innings, racking up 10 strikeouts before giving up a walk and a two-run homerun. Finished the outing working five plus innings, giving up three earned while striking out ten. It's an athletic body that still has room to fill out with plenty of athleticism that can impact on both sides of the ball.
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Walt Whitman
Ethan Murley C / RHP / Walt Whitman , MD / 2024The big 6-foot-6 two-way showcased his abilities in multiple ways on Monday night, and it was special to see the impact he can make on both sides of the ball. Coming out of the bullpen for the Vikings, Murley showcased a strong three pitch mix that had promising elements to all of them. It's a shorter arm action coming out of the imposing frame with plenty of feel to the arm side. The fastball showed late life with hard arm side run at 84-86 mph, touching 87 mph once, mixing the slider sparingly at 70-72 mph. The changeup was the pitch that impressed the most in my eyes, showcasing hard fade with killed spin (~1500 rpm) at 74-76 mph.
At the plate, it's a shorter stroke with plenty of lift created through contact, staying true to a strong whole field approach. Hitting out of a taller, balanced setup, Murley creates solid separation in the hands with some torque in the hips allowing for plenty of strength to the pull side. Sparked a rally for the Vikings and really gave them the momentum in the fifth with a two-run moonshot homerun to left field.
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Gideon Schwartz C / 3B / Walt Whitman, MD / 2024I have always been a fan of Schwartz and the actions and arm strength behind the dish certainly open my eyes each time I see him. Throwing out three runners on the evening (one back pick and two caught stealing), the arm strength and quick actions were on full display all night long. At the plate, the hands work with rhythm and plenty of quick twitch actions throughout, utilizing a more level path to contact that creates occasional lift to the pull side. Provided a huge blast in the game, giving Whitman a 6-5 lead with a two run homerun in the sixth inning. The frame is physical and athletic at 6-foot, 195 pounds.
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